from: Scholastic
Type of bind: Paperback
Label: Scholastic
Manufacturer: Scholastic
Page Count: 94
Printing Date: 1968
Publishing house: Scholastic
Sale Popularity Level: 4175693
Studio: Scholastic
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When they exist, epic poems reveal a great deal about the mindset of a culture and modern education in the United States generally includes introduction of the Greek myths and the Iliad. However, Beowulf is often ignored and that is unfortunate. It is the only epic poem written in old English and it gives us a glimpse into the minds and beliefs of the English tribes before Christianity was introduced.
It is a story of a hero fighting and slaying the mighty and evil creatures that prey on humans. Grendel is a fierce creature that lives in a lake and captures humans for food. In the very first story, Grendel comes out of his lair and is killed by the mighty warrior Beowulf. The second story has Grendel's mother out to avenge her son's death, once again after a fierce battle she is bested by the fearless Beowulf. In the final story, the aged Beowulf encounters a dragon and with the help of his loyal soldier Wiglaf, they kill the dragon. However, the exertion is too much for Beowulf and he dies after giving himself a eulogy. Wiglaf also chastises the remaining soldiers for cowardice, as they all fled into the forest when the dragon appeared.
A timeless story of heroism in the face of grave danger, this is a story that should be required reading of all American high school students.
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